Brittle Pages? How Bad Is It? Is It a Dealbreaker? 7 7

[Gotham Kid]

yes

I badly want a Tec32 Universal but will not bid on the upcoming ComicLink copy

Edited November 12, 2023 by Gotham Kid

[pmpknface]

Generally, I avoid them. However exceptions can be made...

[fifties]

On 11/12/2023 at 12:35 PM, pmpknface said:

Generally, I avoid them. However exceptions can be made...

This is a prime example of how CGC grades; much more for the cover, much less for the interior.  Overstreet's guide on brittle pages assigns 1.5 at best.

[Darwination]

In some respect, I can understand the different standards for different purposes.  If it's in the box, the cover is the most important thing.  If you're handling it and want to read it, the overall condition is more important.  One of the funky things that stick out for me with CGC is that you can have an issue, albeit in nice physical condition, that's faded af and gets a good grade.  I'd take a lower grade with good color almost every time if we are talking about display.

Brittleness is the worst problem a comic can have.  I've seen comic issues (as well as pulps and especially newsprint items) that look pretty damn nice but with total brittleness.  Thumb a few pages and the spine just might split down the entire issue. Gimme fat, supple, and grubby pages over clean, thin, and brittle pages any day.

As for Mask Comics, any copy is a good copy                   Good lord - "Classic cover. Bullet in head panel."

Edited November 13, 2023 by Darwination

[ThatNerdyCanuck]

Purely anecdotal, but I remember about a year ago seeing a whole bunch of GA submissions coming back with almost all "slightly brittle" page quality. So I will take CGC's page quality with a grain of salt. If it LOOKS brittle, I will pass. But more often than not I see some "slightly bittle" books that I dont doubt would regrade with better page quality 

[Sauce Dog]

If it is flaking within the slab or in my hands, hard pass, otherwise I also don't take CGC's PQ designation seriously most of the time so I tend to be fine with 'Slightly Brittle' (I do try to avoid outright Brittle books, but will accept that if it is for a very rare book I could otherwise never afford). I've bought many raw books advertised as Slightly Brittle and they handled & graded just fine above that, and I've also owned raw books that looked to have decent PQ but came back Slightly Brittle.

[Badger]

I have one brittle book and one slightly brittle in my collection.

This USA Comics #8 used to be G.A.tor's. I have not had it out of the slab but he told me it is still readable; it is the spine that is completely split throughout the book. I have no idea what this would sell for now.

Edited November 13, 2023 by Badger

[Badger]

The slightly brittle book is a head scratcher. I bought this book raw through Heritage as a VG. I agreed that it was a VG and page quality was cream to off white (is that still a thing?) Read it with no flaking and did not notice any soft spots.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

On 11/13/2023 at 10:56 AM, Badger said:

The slightly brittle book is a head scratcher. I bought this book raw through Heritage as a VG. I agreed that it was a VG and page quality was cream to off white (is that still a thing?) Read it with no flaking and did not notice any soft spots.

D’oh!

[*paull*]

I never liked brittle comics or pulps. Nothing worse than pages or spine cracking and pieces coming off of a book.  I'll pass unless it's an incredible deal.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

On 11/11/2023 at 7:01 AM, GreatCaesarsGhost said:

I wouldn’t kick this out of bed

With one day still left!

Edited November 16, 2023 by GreatCaesarsGhost

[WolverineX]

how about light tan to OW?

[Point Five]

On 11/17/2023 at 7:31 PM, WolverineX said:

how about light tan to OW?

Giddy-up, for me anyway. I think that designation may even be less consistent than Slightly Brittle.

 

[pmpknface]

Here's another example of one I was ok with.  Bought this one from a boardie with a few other Catman books years ago.  I think it was a nice pickup.

[newshane]

Once pages start to brittle, salvation is out of the question. The hill has been crested and is disappearing into the sky. 

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

2 years ago this would have been a $200k book(in cream to offwhite). Hard to know if it’s the brittle pages, or the market correction for this sad price, but I’m thinking it’s mostly the brittle designation

[Buzzetta]

I had one book go from a 4.5 with slightly brittle reholdered by another company to see what would happen when they were first starting out.   It came back a 3.5 tan to off white from the other company.

When I sent it back to CGC ... just because... it came back a 3.5 tan to off white from them as well. 

So... again, who knows?

[Primetime]

On 11/17/2023 at 4:31 PM, WolverineX said:

how about light tan to OW?

It is fine for me especially on early Golden age, but the PQ on the label 🏷️ may bother some people. 

Edited January 14 by Primetime

[Dark Knight]

Yeah I don't buy brittle books.  I may buy a slightly brittle paged book if it is truly scarce. The Bat 1 that sold would have gone for a lot more if it had supple pages.  There were quite a few collectors who passed on bidding because of the PQ.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

Light tan, or brittle? YOU BE THE JUDGE